Head of Business and Operations
TreeHouse School
N10 3JA
- £65,000 per year
- New
- Salary:
- Circa £65,000
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- January 2025 (earlier start date available)
- Apply by:
- 26 August 2024
Job overview
Join TreeHouse School as its new Head of Business and Operations to spearhead continuous operational/business improvements at this thriving, inclusive school.
Location: Muswell Hill, London
Salary: Circa £65,000
Type: Permanent, full time (40 hours per week)
Start date for role: January 2025 (or earlier if suitable)
About Ambitious about Autism: our story
At Ambitious about Autism, we are unwavering in our commitment to working with autistic children and young people, advocating for their rights and supporting them to achieve their dreams. We firmly believe that every autistic child and young person has the fundamental right to be themselves and to realise their ambitions.
We are ambitious by name and ambitious by nature! Starting in 1997 with the opening of TreeHouse School by 4 parents, AaA has become a movement for change.
Today, we run both schools and colleges that focus on improving the quality of life of pupils and learners to enable them to learn, thrive and achieve.
In addition, our national services provide information and practical support to autistic young people, run a youth network, an internship programme and actively campaign for policy change.
About TreeHouse School:
TreeHouse School is a non-maintained special school for pupils aged 4- 19 with Autism and learning difficulties.
There are currently over 100 pupils on roll supported by approximately 150 staff consisting of qualified teachers, teaching assistants, allied health professionals, positive behaviour support staff and operational staff.
It is a thriving and inclusive community devoted to the education and well-being of autistic children and young people across each of its three distinct curriculum pathways, which are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our pupils: pre-formal, semi-formal, and formal. Each pathway focuses on promoting well-being, independence, and social participation, with a strong emphasis on personalised learning and positive behaviour support.
About the role:
The school is graded ‘Outstanding' but as we look to maintain our excellence, we are seeking a new Head of Business and Operations to play a crucial role in supporting the Head (2 years in post) to review and drive continuous improvement.
Whilst overseeing the financial and operational aspects of the school, your primary focus will be to work collaboratively with the Headteacher on enhancing efficiencies and effectiveness for improved functioning of the school, its infrastructure, and operations — but most importantly for pupil outcomes.
This role does involve line management of two operations managers as well as other office/operations staff within the school.
The immediate challenge and priority for this role will be to evaluate the school's operational model, systems and processes for monitoring areas outlined in the job description and seek ways to streamline these with innovative solutions.
You will work with the Headteacher to alleviate the administrative burdens from them but importantly support change management where identified / agreed.
Who we are looking for:
We are seeking an experienced professional with background experience and proficiencies in business management, and operations management — including management of operational performance and reporting for governance and relationship management (internal and external stakeholders).
The ideal candidate will be proficient in financial management and strategic planning.
Having the ability to work collaboratively within a school leadership team will be essential, and you should have excellent communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders and drive positive change at Treehouse School.
We are looking for a leader who is confident to tackle challenges head-on and drive continuous improvement.
While familiarity with educational systems and regulations is desirable, it is more important to come with a proactive mindset and a commitment to enhancing operational efficiency.
Applications for this role close at 12am on Monday 26th of August 2024.
Ambitious about Autism is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. All applications will be considered solely on merit.
Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification. Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.
Attached documents
About TreeHouse School
TreeHouse School is a non-maintained special school that was founded in 1997. Based in the heart of a thriving community in north London, it educates autistic pupils aged three to 19 from across London and the Home Counties.
Using the Ambitious Approach to education, pupils receive specialist and personalised support through a dedicated transdisciplinary team of qualified teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists and behaviour specialists.
TreeHouse School works hand in hand with parents and carers, local schools, community groups and employers to maximise opportunities for pupils to enjoy school, succeed in their learning and transition to a fulfilling and rewarding adult life.
Our visions, values and ethos:
Our core beliefs and values provide the foundation for our approach to service delivery. We believe that early diagnosis and intervention is critical to giving all autistic children the best start in life. Effective education has the power to transform their lives and help them reach their potential and to raise expectations for their future.
We are committed to providing high-quality, specialist teaching, learning and support to improve the life chances of those we work with. We believe that the views and choices of children and young people should shape services and because those choices will vary it is essential that a range of educational provision is available.
We also recognise the vital role that parents and carers play in supporting young people to make decisions about their future lives. We are committed therefore to ensuring that we work closely with autistic young people and their families.
Our values are reflected by our commitment to education services which:
- focus on the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and their families, based on their aspirations and priorities
- adopt a person-centred approach which ensures that the voice of the young person is at the centre of all we do
- provide outstanding teaching, learning, and support through a behavioural approach
- ensure high-quality provision through practice that is reflective and evidence-based
- work in the best interests of the individual and their family through an effective multidisciplinary approach
- secure better life chances for autistic children and young people by developing partnerships that support effective transition and a range of appropriate pathways into adulthood.
TreeHouse School pupils follow three core school values:
- Be safe
- Make responsible choices
- Do your best
Our Curriculum:
Our curriculum is tailored to each pupil’s unique qualities, specific needs, and individual starting points. In this way, we can set accurate targets for progress.
In our individualised learning programmes, we assess each pupil extensively and consider their strengths and what they find more challenging. Our curriculum is creative and flexible, using our natural environment to extend pupils’ learning. You are as likely to see maths being practised in the shop, the community or the garden as you are in the classroom. Where appropriate, our curriculum is linked to and, where necessary, differentiated from the National Curriculum’s requirements.
Our personalised curriculum is:
- individually planned
- specialised
- intensive
- goal-directed
- guided by pupil performance.
What is like to learn here:
Pupils at TreeHouse School enjoy many educational trips, including visits to the local shops and cafés, or places of interest in London and further afield. Educational visits are an important part of the vibrant curriculum experience.
TreeHouse School also plays a key role in the local community, having long-established links with organisations and businesses in Muswell Hill and across north London.
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